On 28 Jan 2013 at 1:33pm New Lewesian wrote:
What does DFL mean? I keep seeing it mentioned in posts, but have no idea what people are going on about.....
On 28 Jan 2013 at 1:39pm babysitter wrote:
Down From London
On 28 Jan 2013 at 1:41pm Blip wrote:
It means "down from London", and I'm sorry to say it is generally used in a derogatory way to describe incomers who have brought their new-fangled high-falutin' London ways to the perceived detriment of our cherished Lewes environment. Make of it what you will!
On 28 Jan 2013 at 1:50pm DFL wrote:
It means "i am a small-minded and ignorant idiot, much given to black-and-white views of the world."
I find it is quite a useful little acronymn, as its use is a helpful way of pointing out which comments or, indeed, individuals should be blissfully ignored.
On 28 Jan 2013 at 1:53pm DFL'er wrote:
According to the 'old' Lewes folk it can also mean: rich, 4x4 driving, Latte drinking, Organic bread buying, or any person who doesn't want to live in the 19th Century.
Its great being one. You eat well.
On 28 Jan 2013 at 2:00pm Pete wrote:
Yep, second that.
On 28 Jan 2013 at 2:55pm my town wrote:
its not so much the DF L . what get on my tits . its the people that move into lewes and think that they are lewes people because they have live here for 5 to 10 years then go on about then go on about d f l
On 28 Jan 2013 at 3:00pm kevsy wrote:
but they are Lewes people, on account of them living in Lewes
On 28 Jan 2013 at 3:47pm my town wrote:
No they are living in lewes . that my point people just do not get it !
On 28 Jan 2013 at 4:07pm Three thumbed ted wrote:
It translates as ' cocky arrogant twat' as marvellously proved by the two dfls above. It has nothing to do with bring us in to the 21 st century.
On 28 Jan 2013 at 4:10pm Old Cynic wrote:
If people move to Lewes, buy stuff in the local shops, send their kids to local schools, employ local tradesmen and use local businesses, eat in local cafes, drink in local pubs, take part in local events then why can they not call themselves then why can they not be called Lewes people?
On 28 Jan 2013 at 4:11pm DFL'er wrote:
It seems irony hasn't reached Lewes in the 21st Century. Might have to wait till the 22nd. At which point after 90 years of living here I'm sure I will still be considered a DFL.
On 28 Jan 2013 at 4:15pm fred flintstone wrote:
DFL is small-minded prejudice, trouble is it's also a pretty accurate label for many of the laughably stereotypical middleclass idiots who move here
On 28 Jan 2013 at 4:53pm DFL BIGOTS wrote:
DFL is an essentially meaningless cliche which is used by people who can't string a decent argument together without relying on stereotypes. Of course there are some idiots who have moved 'down from London', in the same way that there were plenty already here . Just take a look at online C19th censuses. No one has ever explained how they know that a poncy tosser who has moved here, and rambles on about organic twine, is from London, near London, or even how close you need to be to qualify. It is based of a tragic narrow minded belief that your worth is based on how long you have lived somewhere, or where you are from. Oh, and incidentally, I did once live in London, have lived in this area twice, most recently for nearly two decades, my ancestral family are from the town, but did move her DFB (Down from Berwick) last century. I once lived abroad, am yet to have my genes tested, but did date a Canadian once. Oh, and I am not a big fan of organic twine, and the perceived lifestyle here that renders our property prices so high, and attracts greedy developers. Incidentally. The lovely castle was built by UFF's. perhaps we should pull it down, to show em who's boss?
On 28 Jan 2013 at 5:05pm Sussex Jim wrote:
The problem is even worse in the surrounding villages where London workers find it cheaper to move out here and pay the season ticket to London, rather than live in the capital. I did some work in Piddinghoe, during the week and also at the weekend. The street was empty on all days: residents drove in and promptly shut themselves away in their houses until it was time to rejoin the rodent race.
On 28 Jan 2013 at 5:26pm Horseman7 wrote:
I've lived in Sussex for all my 59 years, and in Lewes for the last 29 of those.
Do I count as a local yet?
On 28 Jan 2013 at 5:28pm DFN wrote:
Contrary to what the name might imply, to me the term DFL does not simply apply to anyone from London. I am quite happy to accept that there are plenty of Londoners who are quite normal and fit into Lewes life quite happily! It is more to do with a certain lifestyle, and holier than thou attitude, possibly summed up quite well in the old Viz comic strip, 'The Modern Parents'....
Check it out here »
On 28 Jan 2013 at 6:22pm Local wrote:
Good analogy, DFN!
On 28 Jan 2013 at 6:46pm Uff wrote:
Indeed dfn. Addriene Campbell who lived along St. John's terrace always reminded me of 'The modern parents'.
On 28 Jan 2013 at 7:12pm my town wrote:
Horseman 7 yes you are a local
On 28 Jan 2013 at 7:20pm Blip wrote:
DFN. thanks for the info on the Modern Parents. Very enjoyable, and hits the spot, in my book anyway!
On 28 Jan 2013 at 7:53pm Vic wrote:
And what about UfB's? Are the Up from Brighton's held with the same supossed disdain?
On 28 Jan 2013 at 8:20pm Ed Can Do wrote:
A lot of people who move here from Brighton are those who initially moved there from London back when apparently it was trendy but are now moving out to the sticks as Brighton has become hideously awash with less desirable people from London so they're basically DFLs.
As has already been said, DFL isn't a dig at everyone from London or indeed aimed specifically at Londoners. It's a tag for people who commute out of the town for work, moved here because they liked how jolly quiet and middle class the town is but then want to change the town to suit their own ideal, which has tended to make the town more and more like Islington or Richmond. As well as being exactly the Modern Parents from Viz, think also the "I saw you coming" customers from Harry and Paul. h++p://youtu.be/uVvcD4Czx4Y (Add a link thing isn't working again)
On 28 Jan 2013 at 11:47pm expat two wrote:
They also detest the fact that Lewes is well represented by Lib voters and without a shred of irony rail against our casual tolerance to outsiders, thinking we should all change our ways to suit their neanderthal views.
Speaking of which, what happened to that awful little man Paul Newton? Has he p***ed off back to where he came from yet?
On 29 Jan 2013 at 1:53am Lewes lady wrote:
Out of interest Expat Two, are you a UK expat living abroad or an overseas expat living in the UK?
On 29 Jan 2013 at 10:55am GhostBike wrote:
I thought the whole liberal/lefty thing in Lewes started with Sussex University opening in the 60s (with earlier echoes in the whole Bloomsbury/arty thing in the 30s) and had nothing to do with Londoners moving here.
It's quite funny because DFL in some other parts of the country implies someone with a 4x4, a job in the City and quite right wing views.
On 29 Jan 2013 at 10:56am GhostBike wrote:
I thought the whole liberal/lefty thing in Lewes started with Sussex University opening in the 60s (with earlier echoes in the whole Bloomsbury/arty thing in the 30s) and had nothing to do with Londoners moving here.
It's quite funny because DFL in some other parts of the country implies someone with a 4x4, a job in the City and quite right wing views.
On 29 Jan 2013 at 12:51pm Ed Can Do wrote:
There was a huge influx of liberal lefty types into town when the Uni opened, although I believe Kingston was worse hit. My parents moved here in the late 70s when they got jobs as teachers in Brighton. I guess they were responsible for pricing locals out of the housing market in 1982 when they bought a house in Bradford Road for £30,000. Despite having lived all my life in Lewes except for three years at Uni, I can't really lay claim to being properly local as I'm technically a second generation DFL myself. 
On 29 Jan 2013 at 12:57pm fred flintstone wrote:
Yeah, spot on DFN. As others have said, it's not actually about slagging off ex-Londoners, which would be ludicrous. It's not really left/right either, it's aimed more at anyone who for example will pay £5 for an "artisan" loaf, helping to turn the town more and more into a picturesque middle class ghetto.
On 29 Jan 2013 at 1:38pm my town wrote:
the people that go on about d f l . Are not real lewes people them selfs
On 29 Jan 2013 at 7:53pm Dfl'er wrote:
But £5 bread tastes delicious..
On 29 Jan 2013 at 11:56pm Plain Jane wrote:
To cut to the socio-economic chase, dear New Lewesian, this sort of thing is nothing new. It simply happens when people on below-average wages live in a town with above-average house prices.
On 30 Jan 2013 at 12:37pm garden wrote:
True story, one of my customers is a prop developer and he recently had a couple from Camden move into one of his properties, they asked him if it was ok to turf the conservatory roof so to attract bees, he said "you live in the country and the bees are already here"
On 31 Jan 2013 at 10:27am mickyboy wrote:
the construction of the uni in the 60's coincided with a large new developement in kingston to take advantage of the requirement for good modern housing. DFL is basically a ephitet to any new(ish) arrival that wants to knock the good order of the town, dfl do not like cocks crowing in the morning etc, are happy to pay extraordinary prices for a coffee and a season ticket back to london and havnt got a clue about banana bill, the good thing about them is that having no roots they often blow away in the wind as quickly as they came, those that blend in happily stay and surprise people who think they are actualy a born and bred native.
while I am here does anyone one recall james rushton or know what became of this enteprenuer and glyndebourne art affectionado